The Stuttgart City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday night regarding the allocation of fines and court costs. The item was added to the agenda shortly before the meeting because of a bill currently making its way through legislation.

“The reason we are doing this is because there is a bill in the legislation that will affect the way it is allocated,” Stuttgart Mayor Marianne Maynard explained to the council. “If you have this in place then you are grandfathered in.”

The ordinance was recommended by the Arkansas Municipal League, the mayor said.

According to the ordinance when a person is directed to pay fines, costs and restitution from an order of the Stuttgart District Court, and is allowed to make payments in installments, the allocation breakdowns must include:

• All installment payments are initially deemed collections of restitution.

• After restitution is fully collected, all installment payments shall be allocated 50 percent to court costs and 50 percent to fines.

• Whenever either court costs or fines are fully paid, all remaining installment payments shall be allocated to remaining amounts.

The council passed the measure by suspending the rules and placing the ordinance on first and only reading after two-thirds of the council voted in favor. This was a new rule starting Tuesday night that was introduced by Maynard. After the first reading and the council votes in favor with the majority voting in favor by two-thirds the ordinance will be passed and will not be read and approved two consecutive times.

The item was passed unanimously with only one council member, Jim Craig, absent.

The Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce was approved to close a portion of Main Street for the Sixth Annual Arkansas Duck Calling Classic. The event will be held Saturday, March 16, on the Stuttgart Stage. The Chamber will close Main Street from Fourth to Sixth streets from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The contest will include the Arkansas State Duck Calling Contest, Cache River Regional Duck Calling Contest and the Mack's Regional Duck Calling Contest. There will also be youth duck calling contests and other activities for children.

The closing was passed unanimously.

The next Stuttgart City Council meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, at Stuttgart City Hall, located at 304 S. Maple St. The meetings are open to the public. For more information or to have an item added to the agenda call (870) 673-3535.